The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has urged all media to ensure people’s right to information while adhering to ethical and correct reporting.
In a statement, the SLMA says it is always willing to provide the media with updated knowledge and guidelines in that regard.
It refers to how the media reported the death of two schoolchildren recently.
Exaggerated coverage by most electronic media was evident in disregard to their privacy and identity in order to attract audience.
The media also made their own deductions about their deaths despite the circumstances and causes of death are yet to be determined.
The SLMA statement notes the internationally-accepted norms in reporting deaths and suicides of children, all of which had been ignored by most media in this instance.
At the same time, it commends the media that appears for ethical reporting.
